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| United States Patent |
5,506,763
|
|
Carley
|
April 9, 1996
|
Incandescent bulb and reflector and method for making
Abstract
The incandescent bulb and reflector system, and method of making, of the
present invention includes a small incandescent lamp which is incorporated
into one of several embodiments of a reflector base. In a first
embodiment, the reflector base is formed as a single piece, in a second
embodiment, the reflector base is formed as a base with a separately
formed and overlying reflector, in a third embodiment, the reflector base
is formed as a base with a separately formed and overlying reflector
having an extended axial length land, and in a fourth embodiment, the
reflector base is formed as a base with a separately formed reflector
which fits within the base. The method of making involves the automated
processing of a length of bar stock material, and the subsequent assembly
of the component parts to form a lamp system.
| Inventors:
|
Carley; Curtis J. (1502 W. 228th St., Torrance, CA 90501)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
432981 |
| Filed:
|
May 2, 1995 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
362/341; 313/113; 362/350; 600/248 |
| Intern'l Class: |
F21V 007/00 |
| Field of Search: |
128/21,22,23
362/350,341
313/113
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2372937 | Apr., 1945 | Dircksen.
| |
| 4147163 | Apr., 1979 | Newman et al.
| |
| 4152755 | May., 1979 | Trospor et al. | 362/158.
|
| 4527223 | Jul., 1985 | Maglica | 362/187.
|
| 4546761 | Oct., 1985 | McCullough.
| |
| 4583528 | Apr., 1986 | Bauman | 128/11.
|
| 4596239 | Jun., 1986 | Bauman | 128/11.
|
| 4694822 | Sep., 1987 | Bauman | 128/11.
|
| 4728849 | Mar., 1988 | Morris et al. | 313/113.
|
| 4729367 | Mar., 1988 | Bauman | 128/11.
|
| 4755711 | Jul., 1988 | Fields et al. | 313/111.
|
| 4766886 | Aug., 1988 | Juhn | 128/9.
|
| 4967330 | Oct., 1990 | Bell et al.
| |
| 5038755 | Aug., 1991 | Burgio et al. | 128/9.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 9110498 | Mar., 1991 | EP.
| |
Primary Examiner: Yusko; Donald J.
Assistant Examiner: Richardson; Lawrence O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harrington; Curtis L.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/077,053 which was filed
on Jun. 15, 1993 and which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 07/765,911 filed Sep. 24, 1991. Both of the
aforementioned applications are now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reflector for use with a base comprising:
a reflector housing of generally hollow cylindrical shape having an
internal surface extending from a front open end to a rear open end, and
an external surface, the internal surface of said reflector housing
defining:
a reflector surface adjacent said front open end;
a land adjacent said reflector surface and defining a constant radial
surface through an abbreviated axial extent;
a radial transition portion adjacent said land; and
an accommodation bore adjacent said radial transition
portion of greater diameter than said land;
and wherein the external surface defines an exterior surface extending
between said front open end and said rear open end.
2. A reflector base system including the reflector recited in claim 1 and
further comprising:
a base housing of generally hollow cylindrical shape having an internal
surface extending from a front open end to a rear open end, and an
external surface, the internal surface of said base housing defining:
a central bore adjacent said front open end;
an angled transition portion adjacent said central
bore; and
a rear bore of smaller diameter than said central bore and adjacent said
angled transition portion and near said rear open end;
and wherein the external surface of said base housing defines:
a cylindrical forward portion, adjacent said front open end, within which
are located said central bore and said angled transition;
a separation portion, adjacent said cylindrical forward portion, within
which is located said rear bore; and
an externally threaded portion, adjacent said separation portion and said
rear open end, said cylindrical forward portion fitted within said
accommodation bore of said reflector housing to form a reflector base.
3. A lamp system including the reflector base recited in claim 2 and
further comprising:
a lamp, fixed within said central bore of said base housing, and adjacent
said constant radius surface of said land, having a pair of leads
extending through said central bore, the light emitted by said lamp
reflected by said reflector surface and away from said front open end of
said reflector housing.
4. The reflector base system recited in claim 2 wherein said base housing
defines a rim surface complementary to said radial transition portion.
5. The reflector base system recited in claim 2 wherein the constant radius
surface of said land and said central bore have a common radius.
6. The reflector base system recited in claim 2 wherein said central bore
of said base housing defines at least one indentation for accomodate
cementing a lamp in place.
7. The reflector base system recited in claim 6 wherein said at least one
indentation continuously extends about said central bore.
8. A lamp system recited in claim 3 wherein said lamp does not extend
beyond said front open end.
9. The lamp system recited in claim 3 wherein said lamp is also fixed with
respect to said land.
10. The lamp system recited in claim 3 wherein said base housing is
electrically conductive and further comprising:
an insulator having an aperture, and fitted within said rear bore of said
reflector base and bearing against one of said pair of leads and against
the surface of said rear bore;
a conductive center terminal within said aperture of said insulator and
bearing against the other of said pair of leads.
11. A reflector for use with a base comprising:
a reflector housing of generally hollow cylindrical shape having an
internal surface extending from a front open end to a rear open end, and
an external surface, the internal surface of said reflector housing
defining:
a reflector surface adjacent said front open end; and
an internal bore adjacent said reflector surface;
and wherein the external surface defines:
an outer portion adjacent said front open end;
an exterior radial surface adjacent said outer portion; and
a central external portion adjacent said radial surface and said rear open
end.
12. A reflector base system including the reflector recited in claim 11 and
further comprising:
a base housing of generally hollow cylindrical shape having an internal
surface extending from a front open end to a rear open end, and an
external surface, the internal surface of said base housing defining:
a central bore adjacent said front open end;
an angled transition portion adjacent said central bore; and
a rear bore of smaller diameter than said central bore and adjacent said
angled transition portion and near said rear open end;
and wherein the external surface of said base housing defines:
a cylindrical forward portion, adjacent said front open end, within which
are located said central bore and said angled transition;
a separation portion, adjacent said cylindrical forward portion, within
which is located said rear bore; and
an externally threaded portion, adjacent said separation portion and said
rear open end, said central external portion of said reflector housing
fitted within said central bore of said base housing to form a reflector
base.
13. A lamp system including the reflector base system recited in claim 12
and further comprising:
a lamp, fixed within said central bore of said reflector housing, having a
pair of leads extending through said central bore, the light emitted by
said lamp reflected by said reflector surface and away from said front
open end of said reflector housing.
14. The reflector base system recited in claim 12 wherein said base housing
defines a rim surface complementary to said exterior radial surface of
said reflector housing.
15. The reflector base system recited in claim 14 wherein said outer
portion of said reflector housing and said cylindrical forward portion of
said base housing have a common radius.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of high intensity, efficient
incandescent lamps, reflectors, and a reflector system and method of
making an efficient high intensity bulb and reflector system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Incandescent lamps have been well known for several decades and have been
employed in a wide variety of circumstances. In more commonplace
applications the lamps have been optimized around considerations of fire
safety, heat load, size, etc. In the medical field, the design of
instruments which use light sources are evolving along with the light
sources they employ. Unlike the commonplace applications of incandescent
lamps, medical applications require a different set of considerations. For
example, in a commonplace application where a higher intensity of light is
required, the designer might increase the voltage of the lamp and its
glass envelope size. However, in medical applications, increased voltage
and current, and even lamp size may not be compatible with the medical
instrument with which the light is used.
One method for increasing the light intensity has been the use of fiber
optics. In this method, a very high intensity light source is placed in
optical alignment with one end of a fiber optic cable. The cable is then
extended into a medical instrument to supply light where needed. The
disadvantages to this method are the excessive heat generated at the light
source, the inefficient light capture since only a portion of the light
ever makes its way into the fiber optic cable, and the limited mobility of
the medical instrument, since it must always be at the end of a fiber
optic cable. Sterilization requirements may also mitigate against the use
of fiber optics at the working end of an instrument since repeated
sterilization may cause a denigration of the fiber.
In portable instruments, several limitations are present. First, efficiency
is of paramount importance. Since most of the instruments are battery
powered, a large current drain would be unacceptable. An extended use
would require an interruption in the procedure to change batteries, even
if new batteries were supplied at the beginning of each new procedure.
Another important aspect is safety. In medical instruments, the bulb must
be adequately supported and protected from breakage. Not only would
breakage interrupt the procedure, but shards of glass could be introduced
into contact with the patient. The bulb could be encased in an additional
layer of translucent material, but such would cause a degradation of
performance. This is especially true for white light having multiple
frequencies which cannot be wavelength matched across a given thickness of
material. Added covering materials would increase the heat load, diminish
the light transmission, and would require more power for a given level of
output. Greater power would, in turn, shorten the life of the incandescent
bulb.
Recessing the bulb within a protective sheath for protection causes other
problems. First, most of the light from the bulb which impinges on the
walls of the sheath will otherwise be lost. Next, once the bulb is
inserted within a protective sheath, it may be physically difficult to
remove it from the sheath. Bulbs having protective metal envelopes,
including bulbs with screw bases and which use the metal envelopes for
reflectors are not able to gain sufficient structural stability from the
metal envelopes. A sharp blow to the metal envelope could produce
sufficient bending moment in the bulb to cause it to snap. Bringing the
metal envelope closer to and in a supportive relationship with the bulb
can defeat the reflector action of the metal envelope.
Another important issue is cost and reproducibility. For a given set of
constraints, an incandescent light system could be custom designed.
However, the driving force behind the lighting industry is mass production
and cost. The incandescent system should be amenable to cost effective
mass production such that the cost of a light source to be used with any
instrument should be virtually insignificant compared to the cost of the
overall instrument. As such, a system should have good integrity, meet the
requirements of the sensitive environment, typically a medical
environment, and be easily and cost effectively produced in large numbers.
What is therefore needed is a system for using high intensity bulbs,
especially in environment sensitive applications such as medical
applications. Such a system should be efficient, producing significant
light output without significant loss of light not directed into the area
of interest. Such a system should be light weight and very protective of
the filament containing glass envelope but without significantly
increasing the effort and speed with which a burned-out bulb may be
replaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The incandescent bulb and reflector system of the present invention
includes a small incandescent lamp which is incorporated into a reflector
base. The reflector and base may be two separate components which fit
together to form the reflector base. In certain embodiments, the glass
envelope of the incandescent bulb is protected by a rim of the reflector
portion which extends further in the direction of illumination than the
maximum extent of the glass envelope. A square notch is provided in the
rim of the reflector portion of the reflector base to facilitate turning
movement about the axis of the rim to facilitate the changing of the
incandescent bulb and reflector system.
The reflector portion of the reflector base has a first portion which
closely engages the lower portion of the glass envelope and a second
portion which is formed into a reflector structure to direct light from
the filament into a forward direction. The base portion of the reflector
base engages the reflector portion of the reflector base in several
possible ways. The base portion protects the incandescent bulb's leads and
arranges the conductors in a configuration consistent with that of a
socket or female connector into which the completed lamp assembly will
fit.
In one embodiment of the incandescent bulb and reflector system of the
present invention the entire structure is only about 5.4 millimeters in
diameter and 15.2 millimeters in length. The small size not only provides
compactness and light weight, but the ratio of length to width militates
against breakage, even when roughly handled.
The filament of a small incandescent lamp is contained within a hollow
cylindrical envelope that is closed at its front, or light emitting end. A
lens may be utilized at the front end to further project some of the light
emitted by the filament and redirect it into a beam. The filament is
ideally be spaced back a short distance from the lens. Light which
propagates in a range of angles from perpendicular to the direction in
which light is to be emitted to an acute angle in the direction in which
light is to be emitted, is reflected and re-directed in the forward
direction by a curved reflective surface on the inside of the base. The
inside of the base which forms the reflector sweeps extends rapidly away
from the glass envelope at a point which balances the capture of light
with the support requirements for the glass envelope. The curvature of the
reflector may be parabolic, elliptical or any shape which is necessary to
re-direct the light and in any manner desired.
In one embodiment, the transition from the first portion of the reflector
base which holds the glass envelope to the second portion of the reflector
base which forms the re-directive surface may have a circular lip such
that the second portion containing the re-directive surface has a smaller
inner diameter than the first portion which secures the bulb. In another
embodiment, a cylindrical portion of minimum internal diameter may form a
third portion extending between the relatively larger diameter first
portion and a same diameter second portion.
Ideally an adhesive is utilized to securely mount the glass envelope within
the reflector base at a point close enough to the light emitting end of
the glass envelope that minimum bending moment is exerted on the forward
portion of the glass envelope. Adhesive is also typically employed to join
the reflector portion to the base portion of the reflector base.
The manufacture of the lamp assembly of the present invention involves
machining a length of bar stock to achieve both the bore and re-directive
surface of the reflector portion. The base portion is machine bored and
typically has an exterior surface which is flush with the reflector
portion. In one embodiment, the base portion has a threaded portion which
is spaced apart from the central portion of either the base portion or the
reflector portion so that it may be fitted within a wider range of female
electrical sockets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects of the invention will be better understood from the
following description in which reference is made to several drawings of
which:
FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of an incandescent lamp;
FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view showing a first embodiment of a one
piece construction of a reflector base of the lamp system of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view showing the lamp of FIG. 1 mounted in
the reflector base of FIG. 2 to form the lamp system of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a separate base which is combinable
with reflectors to be shown in subsequent FIGURES to form further
embodiments of the lamp system of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a separate reflector fittable over the
base of FIG. 4 to form a second embodiment of the lamp system of the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the reflector of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an installation tool utilizable with the lamp system shown formed
by the reflector of FIG. 5 and the base of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the separate reflector of FIG. 5 fitted
over the base of FIG. 4 to form a second embodiment of the lamp system of
the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of a lamp system
similar to FIG. 8 but having an axially extended land portion;
FIG. 10 is a side view of the lamp system shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a separate reflector fittable within
the base of FIG. 4 to form a fourth embodiment of the lamp system of the
present invention; and
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the separate reflector of FIG. 11
fitted within the base of FIG. 4 to form the fourth embodiment of the lamp
system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a small incandescent lamp 21 of a well known construction,
typically used for flashlight bulbs. The lamp 21 includes a filament 23
that is attached at either of its ends to filament support legs 25 and 27.
This assembly is then enclosed in an envelope 29 of glass or other light
transmissive material. The envelope includes a hollow portion 31 closed at
its front end by a lens 33 and closed at its rear end by the rear end
portion 35 that the filament support legs 25 and 27 extend through.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a reflector base 37 in a first embodiment
of the present invention. In this first embodiment, the reflector base 37
is a unitary structure having an imaginary central axis 39 extending
therethrough. The internal surfaces of the reflector base 37 include a
first reflector portion 41 which curves into an abrupt transition 43 and
then into a central bore portion 45. The central bore portion 45 lies
adjacent an angled transition portion 47. In machining the reflector base
37, the transition portion 47 may be milled simultaneously with the
formation of the central bore portion 45. The other end of the angled
transition portion 47 abuts a cylindrical rear bore 49.
The exterior of the reflector base 37 includes a cylindrical forward
exterior portion 51, a threaded rear exterior portion 53 and a separation
portion 55 which clearly separates the cylindrical forward exterior
portion 51 from the threaded rear exterior portion 53.
FIG. 3 shows the lamp of FIG. 1 installed in the reflector base 37 of FIG.
2 to form a lamp assembly 55. Because it is known in advance that the lamp
will be used in the base, the filament support legs 25 and 27 are not
trimmed, but instead they are left long enough to extend to the rear
portion of the reflector base 37 where the filament support leg 25 is
connected to a center terminal 57, while filament support leg 27 is
connected to the rear bore 49 of the reflector base 37. An insulator 59
fits into the cylindrical rear bore 49 and holds the center terminal 57
away from contact with the cylindrical rear bore 49, while at the same
time pressing the filament support leg 27 against the rear bore 49. As can
be seen at the right hand side of FIG. 3, when the filament 23 is in the
position shown, some of the light that is emitted by the filament 23 in
the lateral and rearward directions is intercepted by the reflector
portion 41 and added to a collective beam 61.
In the configuration of FIG. 3, the rear end portion 35 and some of the
sides of the lamp 21 are secured by the central bore portion 45. Note that
the reflector portion 41 smoothly transitions into a rim 63 which extends
forward to an extent sufficient to lie at or forward of the end of the
lens 33 of the glass envelope 29 of the lamp 21. Although the view shown
in FIG. 3 is a cross section, and although the filament 23 is shown as
extending parallel to the section shown, it is understood that the
reflection provided by the reflector portion 41 extends completely
circularly and that reflection occurs about an annulus with respect to the
lamp 21.
It is good practice, and will be shown that an insulator may be added to
the leg 25 of the lamp 21 to insure that it will not inadvertently contact
the inside surface of the reflector base 37, either when the lamp 21 is
being mounted into the reflector base 37, or later when the lamp assembly
55 is subjected to forces through use.
The reflector base of the lamp assembly of the present invention may be
formed from two separate structures. Referring to FIG. 4, a separate base
101 which interfits with several reflector portions (yet to be shown) is
illustrated. The dimensions will be disclosed to give an idea of the very
small size of the base 101 as well as to show the manner of interfitting
with the reflector portions.
The base 101 has a central bore 103 adjacent an angled transition 105. The
other end of the angled transition 105 is adjacent a smaller rear internal
portion 107. The smaller rear portion 107 abuts an angular chamfer 109
which is slight in length and is positioned at an angle of about
45.degree.. The exterior of the base 101 includes a cylindrical forward
exterior portion 111, a threaded rear exterior portion 113 and a
separation portion 115 which clearly separates the cylindrical forward
exterior portion 111 from the threaded rear exterior portion 113.
To give an idea of the ideal size of the base 101 and the way in which it
will interfit with various reflectors, dimensions will be given. The
internal diameter of the central bore is about 0.185 inches. The outer
diameter of the cylindrical forward exterior portion of the base 101 is
about 0.218 inches. The internal diameter of the smaller rear portion 107
is about 0.094 inches. The outer diameter of the separation portion 115 is
about 0.122 inches, and it has an axial length of about 0.045 inches.
Note the flat area 117 which bounds the transition from the threaded rear
exterior portion 113 to the separation portion 115, and the flat area 119
which bounds the threaded rear exterior portion 113 at its other end. This
flat areas 117 and 119 will help to prevent cross threading which would be
more prevalent with a threaded rear exterior portion 113 which would have
had gradually arising threads. This is also important for positive
engagement, especially where the completed lamp assembly is to be lowered
into a cylindrically shaped socket and axially aligned due to the close
fit of the interior portion of a socket with the exterior surface of a
lamp assembly. The length of the threaded rear exterior portion 113 is
about 0.090 inches. The existence of the separation portion 115 will
enable less criticality between the upper edge of a socket containing
interior threads of the socket (not shown) and the radially flat surface
121 which forms the transition between the cylindrical forward exterior
portion 111 and the separation portion 115.
Referring to FIG. 5, a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a
reflector 131 fittable over the base 101 is shown. Reflector 131 has an
exterior surface 132 which has an axial length of about 0.440 inches.
Reflector 131 has a reflector portion 133 which curves into an abrupt
transition into a circular land 135 which represents the smallest diameter
within the reflector 131. Adjacent the land 135 is a radial surface 137
which forms the transition to a base 101 accommodation bore 139.
Accommodation bore 139 is ideally about 0.218 inches to match the outer
diameter of the base 101. The radial surface 137 will limit the maximum
extent to which the base 101 may be received within the accommodation bore
139, which is its axial length of about 0.200 inches.
The overall diameter of the reflector 131 is about 0.340 inches. The
outermost portion of the reflector 131 forms a lip 141 having a nominal
thickness of about 0.03 inches. As is shown in FIG. 5, one of a pair of
square slots 143 is formed into the rim of the outermost portion of the
reflector 131. The square slots 143 have a width and depth of about 0.06
inches, and oppose each other.
Referring to FIG. 6, an end view, taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 shows the
relationship of the two square slots 143. The surface of the land 135 can
be seen along with the lip 141. The transition from the square slots 143
to the reflector portion 133 can be clearly seen. As will be shown, the
square slots 143 are used with a tool which can engage the reflector 131
along with its attached base to rotate the lamp system of the present
invention into and out of an electrical socket.
Referring to FIG. 7, an installation tool 151 is shown. The installation
tool 151 is typically made of aluminum sheeting, about 0.050 inches thick.
The installation tool 151 is about 0.338 inches wide and about an inch or
so tall. A notch 153 exists at the center width of the end of the
installation tool 151, and has a diameter of about 0.187 inches at its
curving transition. The half circle curvature is offset from the end of
the tool 151 a distance of about 0.060 inches, matching the depth of the
square slots 143. Notch 153 defines a pair of legs 155. The legs 155 are
intended to engage the square slots 143 which were shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
The notch 153 insures clearance with respect to lamp 21, which is
necessary since the legs 155 extend below the lip 141 shown in FIGS. 5 and
6.
FIG. 8 illustrates the base 101 of FIG. 4 assembled within the
accommodation bore 139 of FIG. 5 to form a lamp assembly 161. In the
manufacturing process, as was the case for reflector base 25, both the
base 101 and reflector 131 may be made of aluminum, brass, steel,
stainless steel, any metallic compound, plastic, glass, or other ceramic
material. The reflector 131 is formed preferably with an automated milling
machine, as is base 101. Once the reflector 131 is milled, the reflector
portion 133 may be polished or metalized to form a highly reflective
surface. The reflector portion 133 may be parabolic, elliptic or a
specialized contour, depending upon the requirements. Preferably, the
reflector portion 133 will be configured to work in concert with the lens
33 to refocus light from the filament 23 to a common area. In this
configuration, the lamp 21 is first cemented within the base 101 using an
adhesive. Next, the base 101 and lamp 21 assembly are inserted through the
accommodation bore 139 of the reflector 131 and cemented in place, also
preferably with an adhesive to form the lamp assembly 161. Note that the
lamp 21 may have indentations 163 to accommodate the cementing of the lamp
21 to the internal portion of the base 101.
Referring to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment is shown in which the
reflector 131 contains an expanded length land portion 165 which provides
additional support to the lamp 21. The lamp 21 may have indentations 167
to facilitate its being cemented to base 101, and may have indentations
169 to facilitate its being cemented to reflector 131. FIG. 9 also shows
details of the internals of the lamp 21, including the use of a 0.01 inch
welded nickel wire 171 and 173 to the leads 25 and 27, respectively. Also
shown is an insulating tube 175 around the wire 171 which extends to the
center terminal 43. Also note the permissible excess of adhesive 177 about
the exterior of the base 101 at its interface with the reflector 131. The
other structures of FIG. 9 are generally equivalent to the structures
shown in FIGS. 4-8.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the exterior of the lamp assembly 161 shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9. Note the relationship of the base 101 and the reflector
131, and how the lamp 21 is recessed below the rim 141 of the reflector
131. The lamp 21 is, in this plan view taken from the side, only visible
through the square slots 143.
Referring to FIG. 11, a second embodiment of a reflector 181 which may be
utilized with the base 101 is shown. In this instance, the reflector 181
will fit inside the internal diameter of the central bore 103 of base 101.
Reflector 181 has a central external portion 183 which ideally has an
external diameter of about 0.185 inches, small enough to fit within the
central bore 103 of the base 101.
At the upper end of the reflector 181, a radial surface 185 serves as a
transition from the central external portion 183 to an outer portion 187
which has an outer diameter of 0.218 inches, generally matching the outer
diameter of the base 101. The axial length of the outer portion 187 is
about 0.050 inches. Note that a reflector surface 189 extends from a rim
191 at the upper surface of reflector 181 to a point below the radial
surface 185.
The axial length of the reflector 181 is about 0.300 inches, so it will fit
within the base 101 without having its lower rim 193 impinge upon the
angled transition 105. This further means that radial surface 185 will
engage the upper portion of the base 101 to limit the extent to which the
reflector 181 will fit within the base 101. It is clear that in this
configuration that the reflector 181 will provide the bulk of the support
for the lamp 21. The internal diameter of the reflector is about 0.1287
inches in diameter which is seen to fit a different sized, smaller lamp 21
than was shown as supported by the 0.185 inch internal diameter of the
base 101.
Reflector 181 has an internal surface 197 adjacent its reflector portion
189. Further, it is contemplated that the lamp 21 will, in the
configuration of FIG. 11, extend beyond the rim 191 of the reflector 181.
This is permissible for instances where the lamp assembly to be shown in
FIG. 11 will be placed in a protective socket. Such extension may dictate
a reflector portion 195 which is angled differently to take to account the
forward location of the lens 33. Even though not shown in FIG. 11, the
reflector 181 may be fitted with the square slots 143 which were shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6.
Referring to FIG. 12, the reflector 181 of FIG. 11 is shown in place with
respect to base 101 and with the lamp 21 to form a lamp assembly 201. The
lamp 21 is shown cemented into the inner surface 197 of reflector 181,
with some adhesive excess 203 shown at the lower interface of these
structures. Similarly, some adhesive excess 205 is shown at the lower
interface between the reflector 181 and the base 101. Also shown in FIG.
12 is an elongated length of teflon tubing 207 which not only covers a
portion of the lead 25 and the wire 171 where the lead 25 and the wire 171
are attached together.
Note also that the base 101 is fitted with the insulator 59, but shows the
center terminal 57 in a position removed from the insulator 59, since in
some applications the center terminal 57 may be dispensed with. This is
particularly true where the base into which the lamp assembly 201 contains
a spike or other adequate projection at its center.
A great number of variations on the embodiment shown are possible and are
likely to occur to workers in this field. These variations are considered
to be comprehended by the present invention which is limited only by the
following claims.
Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular
illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the
invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included
within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications
as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this
contribution to the art.
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